Brief and method of production

ABSTRACT

A brief for men and boys characterized by a generally yokeshaped blank cut from tubular fabric and having a generally triangular central seat portion having a base line approximately the width of the wearer&#39;&#39;s crotch and a pair of similar elongated vertical panels on opposite sides of said seat portion each about the width of the base line. A continuous tape edge binding is attached to the lower edges of the blank. One of the panels is lapped over the other and a waist band is stitched to the top edge of the blank. The lower edges of the panels in overlapped relation are stitched to the base line of the central portion to complete the garment.

United States Patent Senser [451 Dec. 19 [54] BRIEF AND METHOD OF,FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS PRODUCTION 7, 1,137,960 1/1957 France..2/224A [72] Inventor: Karl E. Senser, Riverside, Ill. 1,094,52212/1954 France ..2/224 A [73] Ass1gnee: ISltlmrs, Roebuck and Co.,,Chicag Primary Examineh". Hampton Hunter v Attorney-Nathan N. Kraus andJoseph R. Marcus [22] Filed: March 19, 1971 21 App1.No.: 126,074 [57]ABSTRACT Related US. Application Data 4/1962 Kravitz ..2/224AX A brieffor men and boys characterized by a generally yoke-shaped blank cut fromtubular fabric and having a generally triangular central seat portionhaving a base line approximately the width of the wearers crotch and apair of similar elongated vertical panels on opposite sides of said seatportion each about the width of the base line. A continuous tape edgebinding is attached to the lower edges of the blank. One of the panelsis lapped over the other and a waist band is stitched to the top edge ofthe blank. The lower edges of the panels in overlapped relation arestitched to the base line of the central portion to complete thegarment.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEBMM m2 3,706,103 sum 1 or 2 l N VE NTOP PATENTED DEC 19 m2 SHEET 2 BF 2 BRIEF AND METHOD OF PRODUCTIONBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The aforesaid prior invention involves abrief, or snugly fitting drawers, characterized by the presence of anoverlap extending upwardly from the crotch and overlapping a panel whichextends downwardly from the waist'over the abdomen, and including apassage with a horizontal opening, the upper edge of said overlap havingmeans for resiliently closing said passage.

That structure has certain important advantages not found in the priorart.

The usual brief, as marketed for a long time, is characterized byoverlapping layers of fabric in front with an opening along a verticalline. Furthermore, such a garment is usually fabricated from a pluralityof pieces or swatches of fabric, as-many as six in some cases, requiringconsiderable hand labor in cutting and sewing and excessive wastematerial. Hence, the cost is high.

BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION The present invention, incontradistinction to said U.S. Pat. No. 3,487,833, is characterized bythe presence of a pair of overlapping flaps of fabric covering theabdomen, groin and crotch portions of the wearers anatomy and providinga horizontal passage through the vertical edges of said flaps. Thestructure of said garment is so designed and constructed that saidvertical side edges of the aforesaid flaps providing said passage willpermit manual access from the right side and will normally be maintainedtaut. Thus, the overlap which forms the support will provide thesupportfor the genitalia desired by young males who prefer this type ofgarment.

Another object is to provide a garment of the type referred to sodesigned that it may be cut fromtubular fabric in such manner as toprovide little or no wasted material, thus reducing cost.

Still another object is to provide a garment of the type referred todesigned so that it may be cut from tubular material to provide a swatchwhich may, if desired, be attached to the garment as a seatreinforcement.

A further object is to provide a new and improved method of producing agarment of the type referred to which may be fabricated from 'a singleblank of fabric, with a minimum of cutting and sewing operations, andthus is simple, economical, and capable of operation by relativelyunskilled labor,

Other objects and advantages will doubtless suggest themselves to thoseskilled in the art as the description proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings forminga part of this specification and illustrating a preferred embodiment ofmy invention,

- FIG. I is a front plan view of a brief embodying my invention, certainparts being cut away for added clearness;

FIG. 2 is a rear plan view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the'overlap portion of the garment, takensubstantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1; I v

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6, is a fragmentary view of a stripof tubing from which my improvedgarments are fabricated;

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a fabric section cut from tubing seen inFIG. 6, at a subsequent stage of production;

FIG. 8' is a plan view of a blank for a single garment at a still laterstage of production, and

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a-supplemental seat portion for a garmentembodying my invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION conveyor or the like. Such material has a one-wayelasticity as indicated by arrows in FIGS. 8 and 9. Obviously, such atube will provide a pair of overlapping sheets I2, 12' of identicalwidth, with longitudinal edges or fold lines F and F.

A rectangular section is cut from the tubing as defined by thetransverse line 15, 15.

A cut is made through the tube material through both tubing layers 12and 12' of generally triangular shape, as indicated by numerals 20 and23, said cut producing a swatch 25 seat patch of generally triangularshape which then is removed as'shown in FIG. 9. The converging sides ofthe triangle may, but need not necessarily, terminate a short distanceinwardly of edge F.

The tube is then cut along fold line F, and the section then openedalong fold line F resulting in a substantially rectangular swatch asseen in FIG. 7, with the triangular spaces disposed in allochiralrelation. Further cutting is then done along the lines 16, 16, I8, and18', resulting in two identical blanks B (FIGS. 7 and 8), capable ofproducing two garments.

The rectangular swatch defined by lines'l8, 18, 20, 20' is eliminated,being the only waste resulting from the operation, which is ofnegligible economic importance.

Blank B is yoke-shaped and characterized by a substantially straighthorizontal edge 30 which is of a length sufficient to pass around thewearer's waist, with a substantial overlap, as seen in FIG. 1. Dependingfrom edge 30 at opposite ends thereof is a pair of flaps 32, 32 definedby vertical outer edges 33, 33 and inner edges 35, 35 which are roughlyparallel to edges 33, 33, but slope upwardly and inwardly to roundedcorners 37, 37 and thence extend diagonally downwardly and inwardly atan angle of about 45 along straight lines 40, 40, the lower ends ofwhich are spacedapart to define a relatively short horizontal edge 42,approxi mately equal in width to the wearers crotch.

It will be seen that the central portion 41 of blank B is roughlytriangular, corresponding approximately to the shape and size of swatch25 (FIG. 9).

, As stated hereinabove, the fabric of which tube is formed isessentially a one-way-stretch material and the blanks hereinabovedescribed are cut so that the major stretch thereof is in a horizontaldirection, as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 8 and 9'.

Blank B constitutes substantially the entire fabric of thegarmentembodying my invention, except for a few accessories such as awaistband 45 (FIG. 8) and elastic edging material hereinafter described.

One of the features of the present invention is the use of a continuousunitary tape binding T which is stitched to all of the edges of theblank B below the horizontal edge 30. Thus, referring to FIG. 8, thesewing machine operator would begin by attaching the tape binding T atthe upper right hand corner indicated by the letter X and wouldjstitchthe binding T successively to edges 33, 32, 35, 37, 40, 42, 40, 37, 35,32' and 33 and ending up at the left hand corner Y directly opposite thestarting position X. At this point all of the edges of the blank B,except edge 30, are covered by the tape binding T.

This construction affords substantial advantages in the fabrication ofthe garment. The use. of a unitary piece of tape binding covering all ofthe edges below the waistline simplifies fabrication, permitting theemployment of operators having lower degrees of skill than heretoforerequired in the industry for similar functions. Further, avoidance ofthe use of a plurality of shorter tape binding sections, as in the priorart, results in an increased rate of production of the gar ments.

To complete the fabrication of the garment, Blank B is folded over uponits vertical median line, M resulting in overlapping flap portions 32,32, as seen in FIGS. ,1, 3 and 4. The elastic waistband 45 may then beattached by stitching 47 and the lower edges of flaps 32, in overlappedrelation, are then secured to the lower edge 42 of the central portion41 by a horizontal line of zig-zag stitching 48 (FIG. 3) passing throughedge binding T.

Flaps 32, 32 are likewise secured together by stitching 38, 38 at thetop and 34, 34 at the bottom for stabilization. Such stitching extendsonly a relatively short distance from the top and bottom, respectively,leaving a free open space therebetween for convenient access. Suchaccess may be had from the right side.

Obviously, in production, the length of the slit or opening between thetop and bottom vertical stitching may be adjusted as desired by varyingthe length of said stitching.

Because of the double folds of fabric 32, 32 forming overlap P, thisstructure provides superior support for the male genitalia, which is afeature of considerable importance in this type of garment.

Furthermore, my improved structure insures, in addition to the excellentsupport just mentioned, that firm and neat closure is provided at alltimes, the double-' walled overlap providing comfortably positivecoverage of the groin and abdomen, at the same time permitting readyingress and egress through the passage between the flaps.

Although the garment is complete in all respects as hereinabovedescribed, inasmuch as my invention provides the swatch 25 precisely thedesired shape and size to form a supplemental seat portion, it is soemployed by stitching said swatch 25 to the back of the garment, as seenin FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the stitching extending around the periphery ofsaid swatch. Thus, my invention permits reinforcement of the garment inthe seat, a place of maximum wear, at substantially no added expense.

It will be seen that I have conceived a novel form of brief having anumber of superior features, as well as a novel method of productionthereof, resulting in nearly a up to six, effects a saving in both laborand material,

while production of the supplemental seat reinforcing swatch requires noextra step of labor except for its attachmdnt.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to belimited to the specific embodiment shown and described or usesmentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of myinvention being limited only be the appended claims.

Iclaim: I

1. An undergarment for males, comprising a. a generally yoke-shapedblank having a top edge, a

generally triangular central seat portion having a base lineapproximately the width of the wearers crotch and a pair of similarelongated vertical panels on opposite sides of said seat portion, eachsubstantially the width of said base line and extending from said topedge for a distance substantially beyond said baseline,

b. a continuous tape edge binding attached to the lower edges of saidblank below said top edge,

c. said panels being overlapped,

d. a waist band stitched to said top edge of said blank, and

e. the portions of the continuous tape edge binding attached to thelower edges of said panels being stiched together and to the portion ofthe continuous tape edge binding attached to said central seat portionat said base line.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said 2 in which thepassage to an extent sufficient to insure the positive closure whilepermitting convenient manual access.

4. A method of producing a garment of the character described comprisingr a. cutting a generally yoke-shaped blank from tubu- 5 lar fabric, saidblank having a top edge, a generally trian ular seat ortion havin a baseline a roximatjy the width of the wearirs crotch and pair unuous tape F'q attached to the home!" tal edge of said seat portion.

of similar elongated vertical panels on opposite sides of the seatportion, each having a width sub- The Invention defined m clam-6. wheremsaid stamiany equal to the base line and extending from panels have freehorizontally spaced vertical edge portions adjacent said inner and outeredges thereof, the :22: $25535: for a dlstance sqbstanuany beyongportions of the continuous tape edge binding attached b Stitching acontinuous edge binding t6 the owe to each of said panels being stitchedto the other overedges of said blank below said top edg lapped panel atthe upper and of Sam c. folding said blank to lap one panel over theother panels to defing a passage of resmcted vertical l-ength extendinghorizontally through said panels. 5 23 25; wa'st band said top edge ofsand 8. A method'of producing a garment of the character e stitching theportions of the continuous edge bind described comprising tt' ll k-h dblkf tbmg stitched to the lower edges of said panels a cu mg agenera y yo6 S ape an rpm u u lar fabric, said blank having q i r to the pofnon ofthe F f edge 1. a substantially straight top horizontal edge of abinding stitched to said seat portion at said base length sufficient topass around a wearers waist D with a substantial overlap,

5. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein said a pair of elongatedpanels depending f f Panels are stllched together at the and bottom saidtop edge at opposite endsthereof defined thereof along spacedsubstantially vertical lines to by vertical outer edges d inner edgesspaced restrict the passage thereof while still permitting conth f mwhich Slope w dl d i dl Venlem manual 3.66655 thel'ebetweentoward thecenter of said top edge to rounded undergarmem for P corners spaceddownwardly from said top edge,

a generally YQ PP blank havmg said spaced inner and outer edges of eachof said I. a substantially straight top horizontal edge of a panels b iconnected b a l r dge of each length sufficient to pass around a wearerswaist f id an ls ext nding approximately the with a substantial overlap,width of the wearers crotch, and

2..a pair of elongated panels depending from said 35 3. a generallytriangular central seat portion extop edge at opposite ends thereofdefined by tending downwardly from said top edge, said edge of the saidother panel,

c. said panels being overlapped,

d. 'a waist band stitched to said top edge of said blank, and

attached to the lower edges of said panels being stitched together andto the portion of said cone. the-portions of said continuous tape edgebindingvertical outer edges and inner edges spaced therefrom which slopeupwardly and inwardly to rounded corners spaced downwardly from said topedge, said spaced inner and outer edges of each of said panels beingconnected by a lower edge of each of said panels, saidlower edge of eachof said panels extending approximately the width of the wearers crotch,and 3. a generally triangular central seat portion extending downwardlyfrom said top edge, said seat portion having a pair of side edgesextending diagonally downwardly and inwardly from said rounded cornersto a substantially horizontal edge forming a generally centered baseline approximately the width of the wearers crotch, b. a continuous tapeedge binding being attached in sequence to the outer edge of one of saidpair of panels, to the lower edge of said panel, to the inner edge ofsaid panel, to the rounded comer contiguous to said inner edge of saidpanel, to the side edge of said seat portion contiguous to said roundedcorner, to said horizontal edge of said seat portion, to the other ofsaidfside edges of said seat portion, to the other of said roundededges, to the inner edge of the other of said panels, to the lower edgeof the said other panel, and to the outer seat portion having a pair ofside edges extending diagonally downwardly and inwardly from saidrounded corners to a substantially horizontal edge forming a generallycentered base line approximately the width of the wearers crotch,

b. stitching a continuous tape edge binding in sequence to the outeredge of one of said pair of panels, to the lower edge of said panel, tothe inner edge of said panel, to the rounded corner contiguous to saidinner edge of said panel,'to the side edge of said seat portioncontiguous to said rounded comer, to said horizontal edge of said seatportion, to the other of said side edges of said seat portion, to theother of said rounded edges, to the inner edge of the other of saidpanels, to the lower edge of the said other panel, and to the outer edgeof the said other panel,

c. folding said blank to lap one panel over the other, d. stitching awaist band to said top edge of said blank, and

e. stitching the portions of the continuous tape edge

1. An undergarment for males, comprising a. a generally yoke-shapedblank having a top edge, a generally triangular central seat portionhaving a base line approximately the width of the wearer''s crotch and apair of similar elongated vertical panels on opposite sides of said seatportion, each substantially the width of said base line and extendingfrom said top edge for a distance substantially beyond said base line,b. a continuous tape edge binding attached to the lower edges of saidblank below said top edge, c. said panels being overlapped, d. a waistband stitched to said top edge of said blank, and e. the portions of thecontinuous tape edge binding attached to the lower edges of said panelsbeing stiched together and to the portion of the continuous tape edgebinding attached to said central seat portion at said base line.
 2. Theinvention as defined in claim 1 wherein said panels have freehorizontally spaced vertical edge portions defining a passage extendinghorizontally therethrough to permit manual ingress and egress of thegenitalia.
 2. a pair of elongated panels depending from from said topedge at opposite ends thereof defined by vertical outer edges and inneredges spaced therefrom which slope upwardly and inwardly toward thecenter of said top edge to rounded corners spaced downwardly from saidtop edge, said spaced inner and outer edges of each of said panels beingconnected by a lower edge of each of said panels extending approximatelythe width of the wearer''s crotch, and
 2. a pair of elongated panelsdepending from said top edge at opposite ends thereof defined byvertical outer edges and inner edges spaced therefrom which slopeupwardly and inwardly to rounded corners spaced downwardly from said topedge, said spaced inner and outer edges of each of said panels beingconnected by a lower edge of each of said panels, said lower edge ofeach of said panels extending approximately the width of the wearer''scrotch, and
 3. a generally triangular central seat portion extendingdownwardly from said top edge, said seat portion having a pair of sideedges extending diagonally downwardly and inwardly from said roundedcorners to a substantially horizontal edge forming a generally centeredbase line approximately the width of the wearer''s crotch, b. acontinuous tape edge binding being attached in sequence to the outeredge of one of said pair of panels, to the lower edge of said panel, tothe inner edge of said panel, to the rounded corner contiguous to saidinner edge of said panel, to the side edge of said seat portioncontiguous to said rounded corner, to said horizontal edge of said seatportion, to the other of said side edges of said seat portion, to theother of said rounded edges, to the inner edge of the other of saidpanels, to the lower edge of the said other panel, and to the outer edgeof the said other panel, c. said panels being overlapped, d. a waistband stitched to said top edge of said blank, and e. the portions ofsaid continuous tape edge binding attached to the lower edges of saidpanels being stitched together and to the portion of said continuoustape edge binding attached to the horizontal edge of said seat portion.3. a generally triangular central seat portion extending downwardly fromsaid top edge, said seat portion having a pair of side edges extendingdiagonally downwardly and inwardly from said rounded corners to asubstantially horizontal edge forming a generally centered base lineapproximately the width of the wearer''s crotch, b. stitching acontinuous tape edge binding in sequence to the outer edge of one ofsaid pair of panels, to the lower edge of said panel, to the inner edgeof said panel, to the rounded corner contiguous to said inner edge ofsaid panel, to the side edge of said seat portion contiguous to saidrounded corner, to said horizontal edge of said seat portion, to theother of said side edges of said seat portion, to the other of saidrounded edges, to the inner edge of the other of said panels, to thelower edge of the said other panel, and to the outer edge of the saidother panel, c. folding said blank to lap one panel over the other, d.stitching a waist band to said top edge of said blank, and e. stitchingthe portions of the continuous tape edge binding stitched to the loweredges of said panels together and to the portion of the continuous tapeedge binding stitched to said seat portion at said base line.
 3. Theinvention as defined in claim 2 in which the panels have verticalmarginal stitching securing said panels together at the upper and lowerportions thereof, so as to restrict the vertical length of said passageto an extent sufficient to insure the positive closure while permittingconvenient manual access.
 4. A method of producing a garment of thecharacter described comprising a. cutting a generally yoke-shaped blankfrom tubular fabric, said blank having a top edge, a generallytriangular seat portion having a base line approximately the width ofthe wearer''s crotch and a pair of similar elongated vertical panels onopposite sides of the seat portion, each having a width substantiallyequal to the base line and extending from said top edge for a distancesubstantially beyond said base line, b. stitching a continuous edgebinding to the lower edges of said blank below said top edge, c. foldingsaid blank to lap one panel over the other, d. stitching a waist band tosaid top edge of said blank, and e. stitching the portions of thecontinuous edge binding stitched to the lower edges of said panelstogether and to the portion of the continuous edge binding stitched tosaid seat portion at said base line.
 5. The method as defined in claim 4wherein said panels are stitched together at the top and bottom thereofalong spaced substantially vertical lines to restrict the passagethereof while still permitting convenient manual access therebetween. 6.An undergarment for males, comprising a. a generally yoke-shaped blankhaving
 7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said panels havefree horizontally spaced vertical edge portions adjacent said inner andouter edges thereof, the portions of the continuous tape edge bindingattached to each of said panels being stitched to the other overlappedpanel at the upper and lower portions of said panels to define a passageof restricted vertical length extending horizontally through saidpanels.
 8. A method of producing a garment of the character describedcomprising a. cutting a generally yoke-shaped blank from tubular fabric,said blank having